Shloka 7
Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
आर्द्रपाणि: समुत्तिछेन्नार्द्रपाद: स्वपेन्निशि । देवर्षिनरिद: प्राह एतदाचारलक्षणम्
ārdrapāṇiḥ samuttiṣṭhenn ārdrapādaḥ svapenn niśi | devarṣir naridaḥ prāha etad ācāralakṣaṇam ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Qu’on ne se lève pas les mains mouillées, et qu’on ne dorme pas la nuit les pieds mouillés.» Le sage divin Nārada déclara que c’est là un signe de bonne conduite.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches attentiveness to personal discipline and cleanliness as part of dharma: certain small habits (like not rising with wet hands and not sleeping with wet feet) are presented as signs of proper conduct (ācāra).
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and right living; here he cites the authority of the seer Nārada to define a specific ‘mark of good conduct’ (ācāralakṣaṇa) in everyday behavior.